Is Thailand safe

[Wanderlustgrl]

We secured reservations for the Thailand resort! We shave had friends concerned that we are taking our children and grandchild who are 6 and 4.

Is Thailand safe? Anything we should be worried about? Would Bali be a better option? We have done Spain and France and looking for something new outside the US

Thanks

 

[billymach4]

We secured reservations for the Thailand resort! We shave had friends concerned that we are taking our children and grandchild who are 6 and 4.

Is Thailand safe? Anything we should be worried about? Would Bali be a better option? We have done Spain and France and looking for something new outside the US

Thanks

Thailand International Travel Information

Thailand international travel information and Travel Advisory

travel.state.gov

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Thailand. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider travel to:

• Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla provinces due to civil unrest associated with ongoing insurgent activities.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Thailand.

If you decide to travel to Thailand:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• Review the Country Security Report for Thailand.
• Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Provinces – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Periodic violence directed mostly at Thai government interests by a domestic insurgency continues to affect security in the southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla. In Songkhla, the insurgency is most active in the districts of Chana, Thepha, Nathawat, and Saba Yoi. U.S. citizens are at risk of death or injury due to the possibility of indiscriminate attacks in public places.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these provinces as U.S government employees must obtain special authorization to travel to these provinces.

 

[billymach4]

Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas

OSAC is a partnership between the U.S. State Department and private-sector security community that enables the safe operations of U.S. organizations overseas through threat alerts, analysis, and peer network groups.

www.osac.gov

Crime: Areas of ConcernMany travelers have had passports, wallets, and other valuables stolen in Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market, on Khao San Road, and at other crowded areas. Pickpockets and thieves often cut into purses and bags with a razor to remove items surreptitiously. There have been incidents involving drive-by snatch-and-grab robberies from thieves on motorcycles. Travelers on long-distance bus routes may be susceptible to theft as well. These crimes are most common in Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and in tourist areas in southern Thailand, including Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Krabi. Sexually motivated violence is most likely to occur at, or after attending, nightclubs, discos, or beach parties (e.g., the Full Moon Party on Pha Ngan Island). There have been reports of criminals using scopolamine or other date rape drugs to spike drinks and sexually assault and/or rob their victims. U.S. citizens have reported robberies after soliciting commercial sex workers.

 

[billymach4]

My honest opinion... FWIW. Just have your a sense of awareness. Personally I have never been to Thailand. If you read all of these State Dept reports you will never leave your front door.

Go ahead and have a good time.

 

[Mroze]

We have been to Bangkok twice and Phuket once and felt safe.
However, as listed in earlier posts you need to exercise caution whenever you travel to popular tourist destinations anywhere in the world.
Don't carry your passport [copy if you want] with you.
Minimize the # cards you carry.
My wife does not wear expensive jewelry when she leaves the US.
Exercise caution when using your expensive phone.
Never let little kids out of your sight.
We exercise extra caution in crowded places [like the weekend market in Bangkok] or on crowded trains.

I would give the same guidance for any big city we have traveled to [Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Florence, Dubai, Venice, Paris, Bali, Singapore].

 

[TolmiePeak]

Your children are far safer at the resort areas in Thailand than they are driving in your car.

 

[TolmiePeak]

My wife does not wear expensive jewelry when she leaves the US.


I would give the same guidance for any big city we have traveled to [Rome, Barcelona, Venice, Paris, Bali, Singapore].

All of those cities are far safer than suburban Seattle. I wouldn't wear expensive jewelry in a suburban mall in the Puget Sound.

 

[Tacoma]

Almost all tourist areas have crimes of opportunity like bag snatching. In poorer countries some tourists take advantage of the things that money can buy that are not legal at home. They sometimes get targeted since it is difficult to go to the police when you are involved in certain activities. We have been to SE Asia several times and Thailand in specific twice and never had a problem. We aren't out drinking late or trying anything illegal and have been lucky with our possessions as well. Keep your wits about you and you will love Thailand.

 

[echino]

Phuket is safer than Hawaii.

 

[easyrider]

From what relatives tell me regarding crime it's very safe. Regarding food and water you need to be cautious. Only drink bottled water and plenty of it. Only eat food where you see plenty of others eating. Be sure to take a decent bug repellent. Thailand's uv rating is high so sun screen and SPF clothing might be a good idea.

Bill

 

[claraj]

I was in Thailand many years ago. The only annoying part was getting ripped off by taxi drivers (they would not turn on the meter). Does that still happen? And by "ripped off" back then it was something like, the ride would have been equivalent of $5 but they wanted $10. In other words, it was not a lot of USD, but more the principle of it. We would ask the taxi driver to turn on the meter and the drivers would refuse and ask us to get out of the taxi... Other than that Bangkok felt pretty safe but this was probably at least 10 years ago now.

 

[bazzap]

Parts of Southern Thailand can be a safety risk, but so can parts of many tourist destinations Worldwide and indeed parts of the US.
If you are specifically referring to the MVC locations in Phuket (or in Bali), yes they are very safe.
We have been going almost every year since early 2000s and never encountered any issues.

 

[rthib]

My honest opinion... FWIW. Just have your a sense of awareness. Personally I have never been to Thailand. If you read all of these State Dept reports you will never leave your front door.

Go ahead and have a good time.

For comparison, this is what Canada say about US:
Criminal incidents associated with drug trafficking are more frequent at the border with Mexico, in the following states:

• California
• Arizona
• New Mexico
• Texas

Within large urban areas, violent crime more commonly occurs in poor neighbourhoods, particularly from dusk to dawn. It often involves intoxication. Incidents of violent crime are mainly carried out by gangs or members of organized crime groups but may also be perpetrated by lone individuals. Although violent crime rarely affects tourists:

• be mindful of your surroundings at all time
• verify official neighbourhood crime statistics before planning an outing
• if threatened by robbers, stay calm and don’t resist

 

[billymach4]

Safety and security - USA travel advice

FCDO travel advice for USA. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

This is what the UK gov't has to say about weather and natural disasters in the USA.

Extreme weather and natural disasters​

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.

Snowstorms​

Snowstorms can disrupt critical infrastructure, and cause power cuts, or delays and cancellations in major transport hubs. Contact your travel company or airline before you travel.

Hurricanes​

The Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November. The Pacific hurricane season normally runs from May to November. Hurricanes can affect coastal regions, Hawaii and Guam. The South Pacific tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May and can affect American Samoa.

You should:

• monitor approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Center website
• follow instructions from local authorities, including evacuation orders
• visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website for information on preparing for extreme weather and evacuating

Earthquakes​

While earthquakes can happen anywhere without warning in the US, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington and the entire Mississippi River Valley are at higher risk for earthquakes.

The FEMA website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.

Tornadoes​

Tornadoes can happen anytime depending on weather conditions. The FEMA website has advice about what to do before, during and after a tornado.

Volcanic eruptions​

There is volcanic activity across parts of the US with Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon having the largest number of active volcanoes. You should follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders.

The FEMA website has advice about what to do before, during and after a volcanic eruption.

Wildfires​

Forest and brush fires (wildfires) are a danger in many dry areas, particularly in canyons, hills and forests. High winds can mean fires spread rapidly.

You should:

• monitor local media and weather reports
• follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders
• be careful in areas recently affected by wildfires, as there may be mudslides during heavy rainfall

For more information visit the National Interagency Fire Center and Fire Research and Management Exchange System websites.

For information about wildfires in California, see the CAL FIRE website.

 

[frytard]

We have been to Bangkok twice and Phuket once and felt safe.
However, as listed in earlier posts you need to exercise caution whenever you travel to popular tourist destinations anywhere in the world.
Don't carry your passport [copy if you want] with you.
Minimize the # cards you carry.
My wife does not wear expensive jewelry when she leaves the US.
Exercise caution when using your expensive phone.
Never let little kids out of your sight.
We exercise extra caution in crowded places [like the weekend market in Bangkok] or on crowded trains.

I would give the same guidance for any big city we have traveled to [Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Florence, Dubai, Venice, Paris, Bali, Singapore].

Understand the others but Singapore? That is a stretch unless you are looking to get robbed willingly. Might as well put Japan on the list and just go to the people at Shinjuku and let them take you to the underground bar.

 

[frytard]

We secured reservations for the Thailand resort! We shave had friends concerned that we are taking our children and grandchild who are 6 and 4.

Is Thailand safe? Anything we should be worried about? Would Bali be a better option? We have done Spain and France and looking for something new outside the US

Thanks

Did you stay at the MVCs in France and Spain? If so how did you like them?

 

[Mroze]

Understand the others but Singapore? That is a stretch unless you are looking to get robbed willingly. Might as well put Japan on the list and just go to the people at Shinjuku and let them take you to the underground bar.

My time is too precious to engage in BS talk.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

put Japan on the list and just go to the people at Shinjuku and let them take you to the underground bar.

We just did that and had a blast.
Honestly, we were just in Thailand. Yes. It is safe, but I will say I wouldn't bring a 4 & a 6 yr old, but I wouldn't bring a 4 & a 6 yr old anywhere but Chuck E Cheese (with me waiting outside), so there you go.
and Japan, it is like another world. Never been to Singapore, but you're more likely to get jewelry stolen in the US airport than in Singapore or Japan.

 

[Pompey Family]

We took our (teenage) children to Mai Khao resort in December 2019 and they had a great time. Plenty of younger children aged around 4 and 6 including a number of American children. It's very safe, the Marriott resorts are excellent and the staff are superb. We used the hotel shuttle to tour the wider area but mostly stayed at the resort enjoying the pools and the beach. My only advice would be concerning the beach as there is a steep drop not far out in the sea and it can be rough outside of high season. For young children I would advise using the beach for play and use the pools to enjoy the water.

I've been to Krabi and Bangkok previously but without the kids, I never had any issue in either place although I wouldn't take young kids to Bangkok simply because it's too chaotic.

I have never looked at a government advisory for any country I've been to as I know how dramatic and worse case scenario they are. I'd only be interested in responses from those who have actually visited the places you're asking about.